About HPD
For those of you who dont know me, I am Donald Takayama, owner of Hawaiian Pro Designs Inc. and Surfers Choice Products. I would like to give you a bit of my background in the surfing industry.
I have been surfing, designing and manufacturing surfboards for over 55 years. I am a 5 time United States Surfing Champion and compete for fun whenever my schedule permits. The sport of surfing has been my life. I have been fortunate to have made many friends and appreciate those who have believed in and enjoyed the work that I do. From a humble beginning I taught myself how to shape a surfboard out of necessity. Most everyone at the time shaped their own surfboards in the backyard. In fact it was known as a backyard industry for quite some time.
"If you wanted to go surfing you'd have to become innovative, create something like building your own surfboard. It wasn't like it is today where materials were simply not available. You really had to scrape the bottom or beat the alleyways to get anything. We made paipos out of plywood, just so we could ride a wave..." Donald interview on liquidsaltmag.com - read more
Over the years I have had many different experiences and have been proud of being a part of the industry that I have watched grow to global proportions. As small as the network in the surfing industry really is, the impact of the lifestyle created it's own culture, which has branched off into a multitude of ideas for business and pleasure. I have tried to mix both into what I do.
From surfboards and apparel to accessories. I hope that you too will enjoy a great day of surfing and maybe even a good old surf flick when the day is done.
Enjoy and Mahalo!
